International Student Ministry, Inc.

Our BackgroundOur Organization

In the early 1990s, interest in reaching out among international students on university campuses grew in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. Today, eighty plus campuses have intentional ministries among international students. Those involved with ministry among internationals increasingly became aware of the following:

God is bringing a large number of international students and scholars with their families to U.S. campuses each year (c.720,000 students and scholars plus an additional 1 million family members). Few people are aware of this mission opportunity on their doorstep nor are significant numbers involved in the mission.
Twice as many international students study in universities in other parts of the world as study in the U.S. Little effort is made to reach international students with a Gospel ministry in other parts of the world.
International students who are interested in Christianity or become Christians and are integrated into a Christian congregation receive very little support from the Church in maintaining Christian contact with Lutheran or Christian congregations upon returning to their home countries.
International students staying in the U.S. and moving away from the college campus environment experience difficulty in being accepted into congregational life and worship.
International students who become Christian are key potential lay missionaries and evangelists among their own people at the university and in their home countries. They have a network of family and associates with whom they can share the message of God's love in Jesus Christ. This potential is not being well used.

The awareness of these and other issues prompted individuals to initiate a mission society that would address these issues and encourage individuals to participate in prayer, personal involvement and financial giving. This society promotes Gospel centered hospitality and friendship among international students in the U.S. as well as in other countries.

ISM, Inc. was formally organized as a mission society on May 30, 1996 at a meeting held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Des Plaines, Illinois. It is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from its membership.